Headrest for vehicle seats

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a headrest ( 10 ) for a motor-vehicle seat that is fixed on the backrest of a vehicle seat by means of at least one support rod and that has a head cushion ( 13 ), the headrest being provided with a base element ( 15 ) on which the support rod ( 11 ) is provided.  
     Object of the invention is to provide a headrest ( 10 ) that allows movable adaptation to the adjustment and equipment requirements of the individual vehicle types.  
     A solution to this object is provided by the fact that the base element ( 15 ) has holding means ( 16, 17, 18, 23, 32, 33, 44 ) that are independent of each other and can be optionally used in a module-like manner for a respective application which allow the mounting of supporting elements for the connecting element ( 11   a   , 11   b ) as well as the mounting of adjusting elements ( 22, 34, 35 ), in particular for the vertical, horizontal and angle adjustment.

The invention relates to a headrest for a motor-vehicle seat according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a headrest is known from DE 029 450 60 C2. The known headrest is provided with an angle adjustment such that it can be swivelled about an axis Z. Furthermore, a height adjustment is provided by means of which the cushion support can be adjusted in height and thus can be adjusted at the level of the driver's head.

From patent application DE 10 2004 059 237, a headrest is known in which in addition to a height adjustment, an adjustment of the headrest in a seat direction is possible.

However, these headrests of the prior art have in common which they provide designs of the headrest that are absolutely different from each other depending on the adjustment possibilities, since the manufacturers of automobiles use headrests having different adjustment and fixation possibilities for the different vehicle types. Therefore, the headrests must be custom made for the vehicle types. The known headrests therefore can be improved, since a given headrest type only provides very special adjustment possibilities or functional elements.

On the basis of the last mentioned prior art, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a headrest that allows a movable adaptation to the adjustment and equipment requirements of the individual vehicle types.

The object is resolved by means of the features of claim 1, in particular with the characterizing features, according to which an identical, i.e. unmodified structure of the base element can be used for different applications, the base element having holding means that are independent of each other and that can be optionally used in a module-like manner, that allow the mounting of supporting elements for the connecting element as well as the mounting of adjusting elements, in particular for the vertical, horizontal and inclining adjustment.

The principle of the invention thus substantially consists in the fact that a base element is provided that provides different holding means for the optional mounting of different adjusting elements or supporting elements. Such adjusting elements can for example be latch elements or elements of an electric drive for a height adjustment, an angle adjustment as well as an adjustment in a seat direction and also setting devices for the automatic adjustment of the headrest. Supporting elements can be elements by means of which for example the base element is supported on the supporting bars or the cushion support is supported in a seat direction on the base element for adjustment.

The advantage of the headrest according to the invention consists in the fact that the adjusting and supporting elements can be used or not dependently on the requirements of the application.

The variety of pieces in the fabrication is considerably reduced in this way, that entails a reduction of fabrication and storage costs. Moreover, there exists the possibility of retrofitting particular headrest features, that was not possible in the prior art.

According to a design of the invention, the base element has additional holding means for fixing functional elements such as headrest airbag or headrest loudspeaker. The base element is therefore already provided with such mounts, so that the functional elements can optionally and independently of each other be inserted according to the respective headrest accessory. Such accessory elements can be for example a headrest airbag, headrest loudspeaker or microphone, a heating or the like.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the base element has a supporting device for the connecting element that at the same time enables a rigid as well as a movable holding of the supporting bars for the height adjustment of the headrest. The supporting bars accordingly can be received such that it can be shifted or such that it cannot be shifted within the supporting device. In the latter case, a height adjustment of the base element is possible. In the first case of rigid holding, height adjustment in guiding sleeves of the backrest can be provided or the headrest is not adjustable in height.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the base element has holding means for first latch means by means of which the base element can be locked on the supporting bars at a desired height. This solution allows one to achieve a latch at the desired height on an adjusting device provided on the base element. This can for example be achieved by means of notches in the supporting bars in which snap-in means engage that are provided at least indirectly on the base element.

According to a further design of the invention, the base element has positive latch means that prevent a twisting of the supporting bars within the base element. A twisting of the supporting bars could entail the fact that a snap-in or adjusting device is no longer engaged with the snap-in notches that are provided on the snap-in bar or the teeth. The headrest could then be accidentally moved and would no longer fulfil its safety function. For reasons of safety, possibility of twisting of the supporting bars cannot be tolerated.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the positive latch means are formed by a groove-spring connection. A groove-spring connection can be easily fabricated and thus assures in an economic manner a safe preventing of the twisting of the supporting bars within the cushion support.

According to a further design of the invention, the base element has holding means for a rigid support as well as a support that is movable in a seat direction of at least one part of the cushion support. Such movable support of the cushion support in a seat direction is provided for disposing the cushion support dependently on the passenger's sitting position as close to the passenger's head as possible.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the holding means are formed by at least one opening in the base element, the opening being coaxially surrounded by a supporting device for a columnar holding bar. In the case of supporting the cushion support in a movable manner in a seat direction, the columnar holding bar that is provided on the cushion support can be moved within the recesses in a seat direction. Thus, the adjustability of the cushion support is achieved. The supporting device can for example be formed by a support sleeve that coaxially surrounds the opening that is formed on the base element. In this manner, one or more holding bars of the cushion support are guided in a safe manner on the base element.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the cushion support has holding means for second latch means by means of which the cushion support can be blocked in a desired position on the base element. Such latch means can for example be formed by snap-in notches in the columnar holding bar that interact with snap-in elements that are at least indirectly provided on the base element.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the first and/or the second latch means are assigned to a snap-in slide. The snap-in slide provides a possibility of moving the locks of the headrest in a seat direction as well as also in the height adjustment between at least one releasing and at least one latch position, this possibility being easily fabricated and operated.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the base element has a holding device in which the snap-in slide is received in a guided manner. In case a height adjustment or an adjustment in a seat direction or both is provided, a latch of the respective adjustment direction can be easily achieved by means of the snap-in slide. By means of such guiding, a defined way is assigned to the snap-in slide in a simple manner, which is necessary for releasing or for snapping in the respective lock. In the case of an absolutely rigid headrest, the snap-in slide is not necessary, so that the holding device within the base element remains empty.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the holding device is designed such that the snap-in slide can be moved between three positions in the base element, wherein in a first position the snap-in means for latch the supporting bars and the snap-in means for latch the holding bars are engaged and in a second position the snap-in means for latch the supporting bars are not engaged and the snap-in means for latch the holding bars are engaged and wherein in a third position the snap-in means for latch the supporting bars are engaged and the snap-in means for latch the holding bars are not engaged. In this manner, it is possible to effect a height adjustment or an adjustment in a seat direction, only one adjusting device being released. While the headrest is adjusted in one direction, the other direction will not be unintentionally adjusted.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the base element has means for holding at least one adjusting device that enable an automatic adjustment of the headrest in a vertical direction, in a seat direction or a twisting of the headrest. Due to such adjustment device, the headrest does not have to be adjusted manually but rather is actuated automatically. The adjustment device can for example be formed by an electric motor that drives a pinion wheel that interacts with an array of teeth that is at least indirectly provided on the driven element such as for example supporting bar or holding bar. A gear of the adjustment device can have an automatic lock that leads to the situation wherein the headrest is automatically locked in the respective movement direction when the electric motor is not in operation.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the supporting bars are formed of a composite material, each of the supporting bars having a metal core that is enclosed by a plastic sleeve. Whereas the supporting bar core has high rigidity and breaking strength, it is possible to easily form snap-in notches, teeth or antitwist latch formations on the sleeve.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, an antitwist latch is provided between metal core and plastic sleeve. In this manner, it is prevented that the snap-in notches that are formed on the sleeve or teeth are disengaged from their complementary structures and that the safety of the headrest no longer can be assured.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the antitwist latch is formed by complementary, interacting structures in the supporting bar and sleeve. Thus, for example the supporting bar can have a spline shaft structure, the notches being filled with plastic.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the supporting bars are supported in the holding means of the base element by means of a three-point bearing. This way, for example three bearing noses can be formed on the supporting bar. Alternatively, it is possible that only two bearing noses are provided and the third bearing nose is formed by a rib that is provided in a notch in the bearing of the base element as an antitwist latch.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the base element is formed by a rigid component having a substantially planar surface. This component can for example extend between the supporting bars. The component can have stiffening ribs for providing the necessary stiffness.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the base element is designed as a plastic or a plastic composite formed piece. In this manner, the base element can be easily formed and be fabricated at low cost.

Moreover, the invention relates to a further headrest according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular according to one of claims 2 to 25.

Based on the aforementioned prior art as well as on the also above-mentioned object, the solution results from the features of claim 26, in particular from the features of the characterizing part, according to which an identical structure of the base element can be used in different applications, the base element having holding means that are independent of each other and that can be optionally used in a module-like manner, that allow the mounting of supporting elements for the connecting element as well as the mounting of adjusting elements, in particular for the vertical, horizontal and angle adjustment, at least one holding means remains empty.

Holding means that remain empty can often occur in case of complete equipping of the headrest for example due to the fact that the use of a holding means excludes the use of a further holding means. For example, a holding means for the mounting of the base element on the supporting bars in the case of a height adjustment in the backrest can remain unused if the height adjustment is achieved by relative shifting of the base elements on the supporting bars, that is, if a height adjustment is effected on the headrest.

Moreover, the invention relates to a headrest system for a headrest according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular according to one of claims 2 to 25.

Based on the aforementioned prior art as well as the aforementioned object, the solution results from the features of claim 27, in particular from the features of the characterizing part according to which an identical structure of the base element can be used in different applications, the base element having holding means that are independent of each other and that can be optionally used in a module-like manner, that allow the fixing of supporting elements for the connecting element as well as the fixing of adjusting elements, in particular for the vertical, horizontal and angle adjustment, wherein in a first headrest of the headrest system all holding means are used and in a second headrest of the headrest system at least one holding means remains empty.

In case the use of one holding means does not exclude the use of another holding means, the use of all holding means can be provided in a headrest by means of the headrest system according to the invention, whereas in another headrest of the headrest system, particular holding means remain empty, for example because the respective functions are not desired in the headrest.

Further advantages of the invention result from the uncited subclaims as well as on the basis of the subsequent description of examples of embodiments shown in the drawings. Therein:

FIG. 1 shows a top view of the headrest according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the headrest according to the invention without any adjustment and without cushion support,

FIG. 3 shows a headrest, the cushion support not being shown, with height adjustment in the backrest,

FIG. 4 shows a headrest, the cushion support not being shown, with height adjustment in the base element of the headrest,

FIG. 5 shows a headrest according to FIG. 4 in exploded view,

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a headrest according to FIG. 4 with cushion support,

FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of the headrest according to the arrows VII-VII in FIG. 1,

FIG. 8 shows a section according to the section line VIII of FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 is a partially perspective representation of a headrest that can be adjusted in height and in a seat direction with unillustrated cushion support,

FIG. 10 is a representation of the headrest according to FIG. 9 with partially shown cushion support and

FIG. 11 shows the headrest according to FIG. 10 with motor-driven height adjustment and motor-driven adjustment in a seat direction.

In the drawings, a headrest for a motor-vehicle seat is referred to in total by the reference number 10. Identical reference numbers, also with addition of lower-case letters in the different figures, refer to similar parts.

In FIG. 1, a headrest 10 of this type is shown. The headrest 10 is mounted by means of two support rods 11 a and 11 b on a unillustrated backrest of a vehicle. For the comfortable support of a passenger's head, the headrest 10 has a head cushion 12.

In the simplest embodiment, the headrest 10 is not adjusted at all, so that it is provided in an absolutely rigid manner in a fixed position relative to the backrest. Such headrest 10 has a base element 15 shown in FIG. 2. On the base element 15, two support sleeves 16 a and 16 b are formed in which the support rods 11 a and 11 b are provided according to FIG. 8, as will be further described in the following. Since no adjusting possibilities are provided, in sleeve openings 18 a, 18 b and 18 c there are no guide rods 14 and also in the bearing 23, no snap-in slide 22 is provided. The head cushion which is shown in FIG. 2 can be directly fixed to the base element 15 or alternatively on a cushion support 13 (in FIG. 2 not shown as well), that itself is provided on the base element 15. The base element 15 is rigidly fixed to the support rods 11 a and 11 b, so that the support rods 11 a and 11 b cannot be shifted within the support sleeves 16 a and 16 b.

According to a further embodiment, a base element 15 that is fixed to the support rods in such rigid manner however can be adjustable in height provided the support rods 11 a and 11 b are received in guiding sleeves 43 a and 43 b according to FIG. 3 that are fixed to a unillustrated seat structure of a backrest. A latch at a desired height can be effected by providing for example a snap-in element on the guiding sleeve 43 b that cooperates with unillustrated snap-in notches of the support rod 11 b. By pressing the button 48, the latch can be released and the headrest can be adjusted as to height.

In the headrest 10 shown in the FIG. 4, height adjustment is provided that is effected by moving the base element 15 in a y-direction relative to the support rods 11 a and 11 b that are provided in a fixed manner on the backrest structure. In a bearing 23 of the base element 15, a snap-in slide 22 that is shown in detail in FIG. 5, is provided such that it can be displaced in a translatory manner. The snap-in slide 22 can be moved in a positive z-direction, opposite the force of a unillustrated spring element, by means of an actuating element 30. In so doing, the snap-in elements 25 a and 25 b (see FIG. 5) are no longer engaged with snap-in notches 27 a and 27 b that are provided on the support rods 11 a and 11 b, so that a height adjustment of the headrest can be effected. Since the headrest according to FIG. 4 does not provide for adjustment in a seat direction, the snap-in elements 21 a and 21 b of the snap-in slide 22 do not do anything. For this reason as well, no guide rods 14 a, 14 b and 14 c are inserted into the openings 17 a, 17 b and 17 c of the base element 15. In the headrest according to FIG. 4 as well, the head cushion 12 can either be directly attached to the base element 15 or on a cushion support 13 as well (see FIG. 6).

In a further embodiment of the headrest according to FIG. 9, height adjustment as well as an adjustment of the headrest 10 in a seat direction is provided. The height adjustment of the headrest 10 itself is effected by a relative movement of the base element 15 to the support rods 11 a and 11 b that are provided firmly attached to the back structure. In this headrest according to FIG. 7, the cushion support 13 is guided in a movable manner on the base element 15 in lengthwise x-direction via columnar guide rods 14 a, 14 b, 14 c. Thus, the headrest 10 can also be adjusted in a seat direction x and be adapted to the position of the passenger's head. The guide rods 14 a, 14 b and 14 c thereby reach through openings 17 a, 17 b and 17 c in the base element 15 and are supported in a sliding manner on a formed-on-sleeve opening 18 a, 18 b and 18 c, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 10.

The guide rods 14 a, 14 b and 14 c are received with their ends in bearings 28 and 29 of the cushion support 13. The cushion support 13 has two shells 13 a and 13 b (see FIG. 7). For attaching the shell 13 a to the further shell 13 b, the shell 13 a is provided with molded-on clasp elements 41 (see FIG. 6) that engage in a positive-latch manner in unillustrated snap-in notches of the shell half 13 b. The cushion support 13 is provided with a head cushion 12 as shown in FIG. 7.

To latch the cushion support 13 in a desired position in lengthwise x-direction on the base element 15, the guide rods 14 a and 14 b have snap-in notches 20 a and 20 b that interact with snap-in elements 21 a and 21 b of a snap-in slide 22 and thus prevent movement of the cushion support 13 in a lengthwise x-direction. Furthermore, snap-in elements 24 a and 24 b as well as 25 a and 25 b are formed on the snap-in slide 22 that interact with snap-in notches 26 a and 26 b as well as 27 a and 27 b on both sides of each support rod 11, as it will be further described below. The snap-in notches 27 a and 27 b are only shown in FIG. 5. They are on the side of the support rods 11 a and 11 b that is opposite to the snap-in notches 26 a and 26 b and are present in a number that is equal to that of the snap-in notches 26 a and 26 b.

In this manner, the headrest 10 can be locked in height as well as in lengthwise direction x by means of the snap-in slide 22 and can be released for adjustment. To this end, the snap-in slide 22 can be moved between three positions: a first position, in which height adjustment and longitudinal adjustment are locked, a second position in which height adjustment is released and longitudinal adjustment remains locked as well as a third position where height adjustment is locked but longitudinal adjustment remains released.

The snap-in slide 22 is supported in a sliding manner in a bearing 23 of the base element 15 and can be moved in a translatory manner in the z-direction. The snap-in slide 22 is only necessary if a height adjustment or a lengthwise x-adjustment of the headrest 10 or both is provided. In a headrest 10 that is absolutely rigid or that has a height adjustment according to FIG. 3 in the backrest or only an angle adjustment, a snap-in slide 22 is not provided. The bearing 23 of the base element 15 in this case is not used.

An unillustrated spring element is provided on the snap-in slide 22 that loads the snap-in slide 22 such that the snap-in elements 21 a and 21 b as well as 25 a and 25 b are engaged with the snap-in notches 20 a and 20 b or 27 a and 27 b according to FIG. 9. In the first position of the snap-in slide 22, the snap-in elements 21 a, 21 b are engaged with one of the snap-in notches 20 a and 20 b of the guide rods 14 a and 14 b and prevent movement of the cushion support 13 in the lengthwise x-direction. The snap-in elements 25 a and 25 b respectively engage with one of the snap-in notches 27 a, 27 b on the left side of the support rods 11 and thus prevent adjustment of the base element 15 with respect to height (direction Y).

By means of pressure exerted upon an actuation element 30 that is fixed to the flange 40 of the snap-in slide 22, the latter is moved in the positive z-direction against the force of the unillustrated spring element from the first position into the second position, which is indicated to the user by engagement of a further spring element 31 (see FIG. 5) that is formed on the snap-in slide 22 with the inner wall of the receiving shaft 23 in the base element 15. In this second position of the snap-in slide 22, the snap-in elements 25 a, 25 b are not engaged with the snap-in notches 27 a and 27 b, so that a height adjustment is possible. The snap-in elements 21 a and 21 b however remain engaged with respectively one of the snap-in notches 20 a, 20 b.

The snap-in notches 20 are deeper than the snap-in notches 26, so that the adjustment travel of the snap-in slide 22 from position 1 to position 2 releases the height adjustment, but not the lengthwise adjustment. When the snap-in slide 22 is moved opposite to the blocking of the unillustrated first spring as well as the additional blocking of the spring element 31 in positive z-direction into the third position, the snap-in elements 21 are no longer engaged with the snap-in notches of the guide rods 14. In this position the snap-in elements 24 a and 24 b are engaged with the snap-in notches 26 a and 26 b, so that a height adjustment is not possible and that on the contrary, lengthwise adjustment is possible.

For adjustment of the headrest 10 to be effected in height as well as in a seat direction x not only in a manual manner but also in an automatic manner, seats 32 and 33 are provided on the base element 15, in which in the embodiment of the headrest 10 according to FIG. 10, an electric drive 34 as well as a further electric drive 35 for the adjustment of the headrest 10 in a seat direction x is received. The automatic height adjustment can be provided as an unillustrated pinion wheel that is provided on the electric drive 34 that fits with an array of teeth that is unillustrated as well and that is provided at least indirectly on the support rod. In the same manner, automatic adjustment in a seat direction by means of an electric drive 35 can be achieved.

Since in a height adjustment of the headrest 10 the position of the headrest is assured by the fact that the snap-in notches 20 safely engage with the snap-in elements, twisting of the support rods 11 must be prevented, because such twisting would cause the snap-in elements 21 and snap-in elements 20 to be disengaged and the headrest 10 to be unintentionally adjusted in height. In this case, the headrest 10 would not be able to fulfil its safety function. According to FIG. 8, the support rods 11 are therefore provided with a rib 36 that engages with a longitudinal slot 37 that is formed on the inner surface 38 of the support sleeves 16 a, 16 b.

FIG. 8 also shows that the support rods are fabricated as a composite structure and have a metal core 46 that is surrounded by a plastic sleeve 47. In this manner, the ribs 36 as well as bearing noses 39 a and 39 b can be formed on the support rods 11 a and 11 b more easily. The bearing noses 39 have the purpose of easy height adjustment of the headrest 10. By means of the bearing noses 39 and the rib 36, the support rods 11 a and 11 b have a three-point bearing by means of which it is supported within the holding sleeves 16 a and 16 b. In this manner, there is only low frictional resistance to height adjustment.

It is to be mentioned once more that all described embodiments of the headrest 10 have the same base element 15 whose holding means can solely be used depending on the desired adjustability or function with additional components in a modular manner. 

1. A headrest (10) for a motor-vehicle seat that is fixed on the backrest of a vehicle seat by means of at least one connecting element (11), such as headrest support rod, and possibly has a cushion support (13) as well as a cushion (12) for the passenger's head, the headrest (10) being provided with a base element (15) on which is provided the connecting element (11) and possibly the cushion support (13), characterized in that an identical structure of the base element (15) is suitable for different applications, the base element having holding means (16, 17, 18, 23, 32, 33, 44) that are independent of each other and that can be optionally used in a module-like manner, that allow the mounting of supporting elements for the connecting element (11 a, 11 b) as well as the mounting of adjusting elements (22, 34, 35), in particular for the vertical, horizontal and angle adjustment.
 2. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the base element (15) has additional holding means for fixing functional elements such as headrest-airbag or loudspeaker.
 3. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the base element (15) has a supporting device (16 a, 16 b) for the connecting element (11 a, 11 b) that simultaneously allows a rigid holding as well as a movable holding of the support rods (11 a, 11 b) within the base element (15) for the height adjustment of the headrest (10).
 4. The headrest according to claim 3, characterized in that the supporting device is formed by at least one supporting bush (16 a, 16 b) that is formed on the base element (15) as one piece.
 5. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the base element (15) has holding means (23) for first latch means (24, 26, 25, 27) by means of which the cushion support (13) can be locked in a desired height on the support rods (11 a, 11 b).
 6. The headrest according to claim 5, characterized in that the latch means (24, 26, 25, 27) are formed by snap-in elements (24, 25) that interact with snap-in notches (26, 27) of the support rods.
 7. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the base element (15) has positive latch means (36, 37) that prevent twisting of the support rods (11 a, 11 b) within the base element.
 8. The headrest according to claim 7, characterized in that the positive latch means are formed by a groove/spring connection (36, 37).
 9. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the base element (15) has holding means (17, 18) for support of at least one part of the cushion support (13) that is rigid as well as movable in a seat direction.
 10. The headrest according to claim 9, characterized in that the holding means are formed by at least one opening (17 a, 17 b, 17 c) in the base element, the opening being surrounded in coaxial direction by a supporting device (18 a, 18 b, 18 c) for a columnar holding rod (14 a, 14 b, 14 c).
 11. The headrest according to claim 10, characterized in that the supporting device is formed by a supporting bush (18 a, 18 b, 18 c) that is formed on the base element (15).
 12. The headrest according to claim 5, characterized in that the cushion support has holding means (23) for second latch means (21) by means of which the cushion support piece can be blocked in a desired position in a seat direction on the base element (15).
 13. The headrest according to claim 12, characterized in that the second latch means are formed by snap-in elements (21) that interact with snap-in notches (20) of the columnar holding rods (14 a, 14 b, 14 c).
 14. The headrest according to claim 5 characterized in that the first (24, 25) and/or the second (21) latch means are assigned to a snap-in slide (22).
 15. The headrest according to claim 14, characterized in that the base element (24) has a receiving device (23) in which the snap-in slide (22) is received in a guided manner.
 16. The headrest according to claim 15, characterized in that the holding device (23) in the base element (15) is designed such that the snap-in slide (22) is movable between three positions in the base element (15), wherein in a first position the snap-in means (24, 26) for latch the support rods (11 a, 11 b) and the snap-in means (21, 20) for latch the holding rods (14 a, 14 b) are engaged and wherein in a second position the snap-in means (24, 26, 25, 27) for latch the support rods are not engaged and the snap-in means (21, 20) for latch the holding rods (14 a, 14 b) are engaged and wherein in a third position the snap-in means (25, 27) for latch the support rods (11 a, 11 b) are engaged and the snap-in means (21, 20) for latch the holding rods (14 a, 14 b) are not engaged.
 17. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the base element (15) has seat means (32, 33) for at least one adjusting device (34, 35) that allow an automatic adjustment of the headrest in height, seat direction or an angle of the headrest (10).
 18. The headrest according to claim 17, characterized in that the adjusting device (34) has means for latch the base element (15) in the desired height.
 19. The headrest according to claim 17, characterized in that the adjusting device comprises a pinion gear that is driven by an electric motor (34, 35) that interacts with an array of teeth that is provided at least indirectly on the driven element, such as support rod (11 a, 11 b) or guide rod (14 a, 14 b, 14 c).
 20. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the support rods (11 a, 11 b) are formed by a composite of materials, each of the support rods (11 a, 11 b) having a metal core (46) that is enclosed by a plastic sleeve (47).
 21. The headrest according to claim 20, characterized in that between metal core (46) and plastic sleeve (47) an antitwist latch is provided.
 22. The headrest according to claim 21, characterized in that the antitwist latch is formed by complementary, interacting structures within metal core (46) and plastic sleeve (47).
 23. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the support rods (11 a, 11 b) are supported in the holding means (16 a, 16 b) of the base element (15) via a three-point bearing.
 24. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the base element (15) is formed by a component that is rigid and has a substantially planar surface.
 25. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the base element (15) is designed as plastic or plastic composite formed piece.
 26. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that for different applications, an identical structure of the base element (15) has holding means (16, 17, 18, 23, 32, 33, 44) that are independent of each other and that can be optionally used in a module-like manner, that allow the mounting of supporting elements for the connecting element (11 a, 11 b) as well as the mounting of adjusting elements (22, 34, 35), in particular for the vertical, horizontal and angle adjustment, at least one holding means remaining empty.
 27. The headrest system for a headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that for different applications, an identical structure of the base element (15) has holding means (16, 17, 18, 23, 32, 33, 44) that are independent of each other and that can be optionally used in a module-like, manner that allow the mounting of supporting elements for the connecting element (11 a, 11 b) as well as the mounting of adjusting elements (22, 34, 35), in particular for the vertical, horizontal and angle adjustment, in a first headrest of the headrest system all holding means being used and in a second headrest of the headrest system at least one holding means remains empty. 